To say that this was one of the most chaotic summers of my life would be a gross understatement. Overwhelmed by school work, the onset of college tours, incessant meetings with teachers and counselors and at times tedious extracurricular commitments over the course of the spring semester, I, quite foolishly, waited until the last possible minute to plan my summer.
Every year, I try to get a small taste of a different field of study, with the ultimate goal of both narrowing down and exploring my varied interests. With journalism programs, musical theater camps and writing workshops under my belt, I wanted to try something completely different this time around.
I’ve long been interested in arts administration, and often dream of being at the helm of some of my favorite cultural organizations, such as the Metropolitan Opera or the New York Philharmonic. So, in March, I embarked on a months-long search for work opportunities and educational programs that would give me the firsthand experience necessary to envision my future in the field, should it exist at all.
Of course, that was far easier said than done.
Requiring a unique blend of management skills, business acumen and an understanding of what makes great art, arts administration is a tough field to break into. And, as I would swiftly find out, internships and shadowing opportunities, especially at the high school level, are scarce.
I applied for several official administrative internships — disregarding the fact that they were intended for undergraduate and masters students — just to get turned down time after time. After a while, I realized I would have to take my summer plans into my own hands.
Everything fell into place when I attended a concert by the amazing Orchestra of St. Luke’s, New York’s second largest orchestra (and one of my personal favorite musical ensembles). Their musicianship, professionalism and presentation resonated with me, and I realized that the solution may have been right in front of me all along.
In a cold email to their Director of Artistic Administration, I explained that I was interested in learning more about what managing a cultural organization is like and asked if I could shadow her or perhaps assist her in some capacity.
After a few weeks, a response arrived. She generously offered to have me join the administrative team during the final weeks of the DeGaetano Composition Institute in late July. A beloved OSL tradition, the Institute is a six-month program for four emerging composers, selected from a pool of hundreds, to develop short chamber pieces under the guidance of mentors and teachers. At the end of the program, said pieces get premiered by the orchestra.
Initially, I assumed that my tasks would be limited to bringing the artists coffee and ordering their lunch; however, my responsibilities proved far more expansive, and I learned more than I ever expected. I got to sit in on lectures and seminars, including a presentation by an OSL executive about the business model of an American orchestra, a discussion with arts agents regarding the turbulent process of promoting and performing one’s own work and a lecture on how to create and maintain relationships in the music industry.
I sat in on several rehearsals, hearing parts of the composers’ new pieces before their official premiere. With wide eyes and a thundering heartbeat, I closely observed the intricate communications between composer, conductor, concertmaster and orchestra, marveling at their sharpness and efficiency. Perhaps the most fun part of the Institute was when the orchestra jammed out to the overture to Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro,” one of my favorite operas, to tune their instruments.
I also met renowned composer Augusta Read Thomas, who had spent the last six months mentoring the young composers. Beaming with energy and excitement, she taught us all about not only the study of music but the creative process behind it.
Overall, I learned so much about what goes on behind the scenes of a major orchestra and even got to help manage the concert itself, from setting up the stage and seating arrangements to making sure all the musicians were ready to go.
The fact that all this started with a desperate cold email is a testament to just how far hard work (and a little bit of luck) can take you. Apart from being exciting and educational, my experience with the OSL reaffirmed my interest in arts administration as a potential career path.
